INDIANAPOLIS - Richard Mourdock's statement that pregnancies caused by rape are "something that God intended to happen" has thrust the issue of abortion to the forefront of the presidential race as well as Senate campaigns across the nation.

As the Republican U.S. Senate hopeful stood by his remarks during an emotional news conference Wednesday, party leaders who see Indiana's race as critical to capturing a majority in the chamber said they are sticking with their candidate.

However, GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney distanced himself from Mourdock, and other Republicans – including U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, the front-runner in Indiana's race for governor – disavowed the state treasurer's comments and called on him to apologize.

"I strongly disagree with the statement made by Richard Mourdock during last night's Senate debate. I urge him to apologize," Pence said Wednesday.

Here's a look at how politicians, advocacy groups and more reacted to Richard Mourdock's assertion that pregnancies caused by rape are "something that God intended to happen."

"The president felt those comments were outrageous and demeaning to women. This is a reminder that a Republican Congress working with a Republican President Mitt Romney would (feel) that women should not be able to make choices about their own health care."

- Jen Psaki, President Barack Obama's campaign spokeswoman.

"Gov. Romney disagrees with Richard Mourdock, and Mr.Mourdock's comments do not reflect Gov. Romney's views. We disagree on the policy regarding exceptions for rape and incest but still support him."

- Andrea Saul, Mitt Romney's campaign spokeswoman.

"As long as the discussion is tightly focused on the comments about rape being something that God intended, there is going to be some erosion in support for Mourdock, especially among swing voters and moderates. If it strays over into a discussion about abortion policy in general, that will be a different matter."

- Robert Dion, University of Evansville political science professor.

"What we're seeing this year is that debates matter. This was certainly true on the presidential level, and now in Indiana. They help voters look beyond the 30-second ads to see candidates in a more sustained way. Ultimately, some races could be decided as a result."

- Robert Schmuhl, University of Notre Dame professor of American studies.

"I strongly disagree with the statement made by Richard Mourdock during last night's Senate debate. I urge him to apologize."

- U.S. Rep. Mike Pence of Indiana, the Republican candidate for governor.

"I am personally pro-life and believe there should be exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother. I strongly disagree with Richard's statement during the debate last night. It is up to him to clarify his own view."

- Susan Brooks, Republican candidate for Indiana's 5th District U.S. House seat.

"We find it reprehensible that Joe Donnelly would try to make rape a political issue. That type of rhetoric is disrespectful in and of itself to rape victims and individuals conceived in rape."

- Mike Fichter, Indiana Right to Life president.

"Are we heading back to the days of courtrooms where the discussion regarding a rapist focuses on what the alleged victim was wearing? Women need a respite from this party's unconscionable insensitivity."

- Betty Cockrum, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Indiana president.

"Richard and I, along with millions of Americans – including even Joe Donnelly – believe that life is a gift from God. To try and construe his words as anything other than a restatement of that belief is irresponsible and ridiculous."

- U.S. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman.

"National Republicans cannot paper over Richard Mourdock's heinous views on rape. Enough is enough. The Republican Party needs to stop the coddling and take a stand against the horribly offensive and dangerous views of the Tea Party and their extreme candidates."

"Richard Mourdock's rape comments are outrageous and demeaning to women. Unfortunately, they've become part and parcel of the modern Republican Party's platform toward women's health, as Congressional Republicans like Paul Ryan have worked to outlaw all abortions and even narrow the definition of rape."

- U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, the Democratic National Committee chairwoman.

No such apology was coming from Mourdock, who made the comments Tuesday night during a debate with his Democratic opponent, U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly.

He said his phrasing was "less than fully articulate" and that he is sorry if he was misunderstood – but not for the point he was trying to make.

"I don't think God wants rape. I don't think he wants that at all because rape is evil," he said, adding that "for speaking from my heart, for speaking from the deepest level of my faith, I cannot apologize."

He deflected questions about whether he believes pregnancies that result from rape are part of God's will, leading Democrats to insist that Mourdock did not address the central criticism of his remarks.

"When you say in regards to rape that a pregnancy from rape is God's intention that it will happen, I just think that's hurtful and insulting to women, to rape survivors and to the families," Donnelly said.

Both candidates say they are "pro-life," but Donnelly favors exceptions in cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is at stake, while Mourdock only supports exceptions when the life of the mother is at stake.

The dust-up forced Republicans into a conversation they did not want to have 13 days from a Nov. 6 election in which they see the economy as Democrats' weakness.

Mourdock's comments were featured on Good Morning America and CBS This Morning. They were the subject of a slew of statements issued by the campaigns of President Barack Obama, Mitt Romney and a host of Senate and congressional candidates.

And they threatened to undercut Mourdock, who ousted Republican U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar in the May 8 primary and has been working to win over Lugar's supporters ever since, in a race that polls have shown deadlocked for months.

"Mourdock has just punted his post-primary narrative of moderation," said Michael Wolf, a political science professor at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.

"The news cycle and airwaves will be eaten up with this rather than his appeals for the moderate Lugar voters he needs in a tight race."

Mourdock got back-up from U.S. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the National Republican Senatorial Committee chairman.

"Richard and I, along with millions of Americans – including even Joe Donnelly – believe that life is a gift from God. To try and construe his words as anything other than a restatement of that belief is irresponsible and ridiculous," Cornyn said.

Romney cut a television advertisement on Mourdock's behalf that hit airwaves Monday. His campaign distanced itself from Mourdock on Wednesday, but did not ask him to pull down the spot.

"Gov. Romney disagrees with Richard Mourdock, and Mr.Mourdock's comments do not reflect Gov. Romney's views. We disagree on the policy regarding exceptions for rape and incest but still support him," said Romney spokeswoman Andrea Saul.

For Mourdock, that was the good news. He faced backlash within his party, too, though.

U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., cancelled plans to make two campaign stops in Indiana with Mourdock on Wednesday and issued a statement criticizing his remarks. Mourdock said her cancellation came at his suggestion.

Mourdock was sharply criticized on CNN Wednesday night by U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., who visited Indianapolis to campaign with Mourdock last week.

McCain said he will not support Mourdock until he admits that he made a mistake and apologizes.

"When you don't own up to it, the people will not believe in you," McCain said.

Republicans seeking office in Indiana, including Pence, were the quickest and most direct in disavowing Mourdock's remarks.

Indiana's two female Republican candidates for Congress – Jackie Walorski in the 2nd District and Susan Brooks in the 5th District – also criticized Mourdock in statements similar to the one Pence issued.

"It is up to him to clarify his own view," Brooks said.

Democrats were more relentless. President Barack Obama's campaign, the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee all blasted Mourdock.

"Richard Mourdock is trying to walk away from his reprehensible comments last night and claim that we misrepresented his assertion that pregnancies resulting from rape are part of God's will," said Indiana Democratic Party Chairman Dan Parker.

"I'm a pro-life Catholic, and I took his words that way. What he said was extreme and terribly disrespectful to rape victims, and he knows it."

On Twitter, Mourdock linked repeatedly to a statement of support from Mike Fichter, the Indiana Right to Life chairman who argued that Democrats are politicizing the issue.

"Rape is a vile act, committed in evil. When a pregnancy results out of this horrific crime, every bit of care and love must be shown to the victim. We believe that life begins at fertilization and with fertilization comes the right to life as affirmed in the Declaration of Independence," Fichter said.

"We find it reprehensible that Joe Donnelly would try to make rape a political issue. That type of rhetoric is disrespectful in and of itself to rape victims and individuals conceived in rape."

Still, the criticism was rolling in.

"Indiana voters heard from a candidate who suggests that a pregnancy resulting from rape is a gift from God -- that God intended for it to happen," said Betty Cockrum, the president of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Indiana.

She said she believes Mourdock would feel differently if he suffered an "unspeakable and life-altering violation."

"Are we heading back to the days of courtrooms where the discussion regarding a rapist focuses on what the alleged victim was wearing? Women need a respite from this party's unconscionable insensitivity," Cockrum said.

Mourdock is the second GOP Senate candidate to face criticism over abortion-related comments this year. The first was Rep. Todd Akin of Missouri, who was roundly disavowed for suggesting that during a "legitimate rape," women's bodies have "ways to try to shut the whole thing down."

Mourdock's campaign pushed back against Donnelly's criticism by highlighting the fact that along with Akin, Pence and 224 other U.S. House members, Donnelly co-sponsored the "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act of 2011."

The measure included language that would have allowed federal funding of abortion through programs like Medicaid in instances of "forcible rape." The use of the term "forcible" seemed to rule out statutory rape and incest, and it was later removed from the bill.

Now, the key question is whether Mourdock's comments will impact the outcome of the Senate race. One early indicator: The Rothenberg Political Report had called Mourdock the favorite, but on Wednesday switched its rating to "pure toss-up."

Mourdock said there could be a silver lining.

"I think this issue certainly serves to energize those people who have supported me," he said. "Sometimes controversy can be a good thing in politics."